Free trees for your farm

All trees can be provided with a spiral guard and bamboo cane (or some other form of protection if spirals are not available).

Small woodland area planting: trees will be provided at a standard rate of 1200/ ha unless otherwise agreed.

Hedge planting: 5-6 hedging shrubs/m will be provided for per 1m. MAXIMUM OF 600 TREES. 

The offer can also be used for agroforestry and to enhance existing pasture (in-field trees). It can also be used for gapping up hedges or filling in woodlands – where appropriate.

Full terms and conditions will be provided upon a successful application. For guidance, please see the following conditions:

1. You plant the trees according to the directions provided and to replace the trees that fail.
2. The trees are not planted in any protected sites or into a habitat, such as Culm grassland or species rich grassland, that will not benefit from trees being introduced.
3. To ensure that the ground is well grazed or cut in preparation for planting where possible.
4. Not to carry out any land management operations on the land that would prejudice the agreement. With regard to woodland, this means allowing the wood to develop for at least 25 years and if possible, to maturity. For a hedge, we encourage laying or coppicing regime as this will maximise biodiversity. Agroforestry/in field tree planting should allow for grazing between the trees (if livestock present) and trees allowed to grow to maturity.
5. Not to carry out any other, non-emergency, land management or access works to the planted area without first seeking advice from Devon Wildlife Trust.
6. To photograph the work before and after completion and send to DWT.
7. That the free trees supplied are not funded through a separate scheme or capital grant.
    

Hedges are important corridors for wildlife, as well as providing a vital nesting and foraging habitat for our farmland birds. We have lost a large proportion of our hedges over the previous century so planting these vital habitats helps to restore some of this lost resource. Not only are hedges important for wildlife they also capture carbon and can reduce floodwater run-off and improve soil structure.

Small woodland areas, agroforestry and in-field trees: Small pockets of woodland, agroforestry and in-field trees help to slow the flow of water, provide vital habitat for wildlife and also help to capture carbon. They could also provide a future source of wood fuel and coppice products for your farm, if carefully managed. Carefully planted trees can also provide a wind break on your farm, as well as shelter and shade for livestock. Planting trees along watercourses can also help to stabilise banks, and to improve the river for fish by providing shade.

We work closely with the Woodland Trust across our work at Devon Wildlife Trust. In particular, they provided a great deal of support to a previous tree focused project that ended in March 2026, Saving Devon’s Treescapes. They supplied over 102,000 free trees and associated tree protection for planting across Devon! Learn more about the project and the impact it had.